Mold-active Antifungal Prophylaxis Research Articles

Diagnostic Value of Serum Biomarkers for Invasive Aspergillosis in Haematologic Patients.

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with haematological malignancies. Accurate diagnosis of IA is challenging due to non-specific symptoms and the impact of antifungal prophylaxis on biomarker sensitivity. This retrospective study evaluated the diagnostic performance of three serum biomarkers: Aspergillus Galactomannan Ag VirClia Monotest® (VirClia), Wako β-D-Glucan Test® (Wako BDG), and MycoGENIE Real-Time PCR® (MycoGENIE PCR). True positives were defined as patients with proven or probable IA (n = 14), with a positive Platelia Aspergillus Antigen® (Platelia) serving as a mycological criterion. True negatives were identified as patients with a positive Platelia assay but classified as non-probable IA (n = 10) and outpatients who consistently tested negative with the Platelia test throughout the study period (n = 20). Most patients diagnosed with proven or probable IA were acute myeloid leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndrome patients receiving mould-active antifungal prophylaxis or treatment (71%). VirClia demonstrated high sensitivity (100%) for detecting IA, with a specificity of 83%. Wako BDG and MycoGENIE PCR showed lower sensitivities for IA (57% and 64%, respectively). MycoGENIE PCR detected Aspergillus spp. and Mucorales in two patients. Accurate diagnosis of IA remains challenging, especially in patients who have received mould-active antifungal treatment. VirClia showed comparable performance to Platelia, suggesting its potential for routine use. However, Wako BDG and MycoGENIE PCR results were less favourable in our study cohort. Nevertheless, MycoGENIE PCR detected two probable co-infections with Aspergillus spp. and Mucorales.

Inborn errors of immunity and invasive fungal infections: presentation and management.

We review the clinical presentations of invasive fungal infections in a selection of inborn errors of immunity. In addition, we review the particularities of their management, including antifungal therapy, prophylaxis, and immunomodulatory treatments. Patients with chronic granulomatous disease and with signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) deficiency are particularly prone to aspergillosis. Mold-active antifungal prophylaxis should be prescribed to all patients with chronic granulomatous disease, and in patients with STAT3 deficiency and underlying parenchymal lung disease. Invasive fungal infections are rare in patients with STAT1 gain-of-function mutations, while the clinical phenotype of caspase-associated recruitment domain-containing protein 9 deficiency encompasses a wide range of superficial and invasive fungal infections. Most patients with inborn errors of immunity and invasive fungal infections require prolonged durations of antifungals. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should be considered early for patients with chronic granulomatous disease, but results have been more mixed for other inborn errors of immunity with active invasive fungal infections. Inborn errors of immunity can confer increased susceptibility to a variety of invasive fungal infections, which can present with specific clinical and radiological features. Management of fungal infections in these patients is often challenging, and relies on a combination of antimicrobial prophylaxis, antifungal treatments, and immunomodulation.

High-Risk Neutropenic Fever and Invasive Fungal Diseases in Patients with Hematological Malignancies.

Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) still represent a relevant cause of mortality in patients affected by hematological malignancies, especially acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) undergoing remission induction chemotherapy, and in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) recipients. Mold-active antifungal prophylaxis (MAP) has been established as a standard of care. However, breakthrough IFDs (b-IFDs) have emerged as a significant issue, particularly invasive aspergillosis and non-Aspergillus invasive mold diseases. Here, we perform a narrative review, discussing the major advances of the last decade on prophylaxis, the diagnosis of and the treatment of IFDs in patients with high-risk neutropenic fever undergoing remission induction chemotherapy for AML/MDS and allo-HSCT. Then, we present our single-center retrospective experience on b-IFDs in 184 AML/MDS patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy while receiving posaconazole (n = 153 induction treatments, n = 126 consolidation treatments, n = 60 salvage treatments). Six cases of probable/proven b-IFDs were recorded in six patients, with an overall incidence rate of 1.7% (6/339), which is in line with the literature focused on MAP with azoles. The incidence rates (IRs) of b-IFDs (95% confidence interval (95% CI), per 100 person years follow-up (PYFU)) were 5.04 (0.47, 14.45) in induction (n = 2), 3.25 (0.0013, 12.76) in consolidation (n = 1) and 18.38 (3.46, 45.06) in salvage chemotherapy (n = 3). Finally, we highlight the current challenges in the field of b-IFDs; these include the improvement of diagnoses, the expanding treatment landscape of AML with molecular targeted drugs (and related drug-drug interactions with azoles), evolving transplantation techniques (and their related impacts on IFDs' risk stratification), and new antifungals and their features (rezafungin and olorofim).

Primary Mold-Active Antifungal Prophylaxis Decreases the Need for Chest Computed Tomography Scans in Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Current guidelines recommend computed tomography (cCT) scans of the chest in children with leukemia following 96h of the onset of idiopathic neutropenia to eliminate pulmonary invasive fungal infections (IFIs). However, cCT exposes some children who are at a very high risk of developing secondary cancers to radiation. We aimed to determine the effect of antifungal prophylaxis (AFP) with voriconazole (VCZ) on the need for cCT scans in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to eliminate pulmonary IFIs during chemotherapy. We retrospectively screened all patients' data from their electronic charts. Children who were diagnosed as having ALL before February 2013 and did (AFP group) or did not (NoP group) receive AFP were divided into two groups and compared regarding cCT scans and relapse-mortality rates. Ninety-six children were diagnosed before February 2013 and did not receive primary AFP and 146 children were administered VCZ following a diagnosis of ALL. There were no significant demographic differences between the groups. A total of 128 cCTs had been required in 62 children in the NoP group, compared with 64 cCTs in 52 children in the AFP group. The percentage of the patients who had required at least one chest CT scan and the mean number of cCT scans in the NoP group were significantly higher compared with the AFP group. Proven-probable IFIs and relapse-mortality rates were higher in the NoP group compared with the AFP group. Mold-active AFP revealed a significant decrease in the need for cCT scans in children with ALL.

Invasive Fungal Infections in Children With Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Single-center Experience Over 19 Years.

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, risk factors, etiology, and outcome of IFIs in children with AML and the effect of mold-active antifungal prophylaxis. We retrospectively reviewed pediatric patients treated for AML between January 2004 and December 2022. Proven, probable, or possible IFIs were defined using standardized definitions of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) classification published at 2008. A total of 298 febrile neutropenia episodes from 78 patients were evaluated. Proven, probable, and possible IFI rates were 3%, 2.6%, and 9.4%, respectively. Profound neutropenia was detected in 18 (58%) and prolonged neutropenia in 20 (64.5%) of the IFI episodes.. Invasive aspergillosis accounted for the majority of IFI episodes; however, non-albicans Candida spp. were the most isolated pathogens in the proven group. Patients with relapsed AML were particularly at risk for the development of IFI ( P =0.02). A significant decrease in IFI episodes was achieved with mold-active antifungal prophylaxis with voriconazole ( P =0.01, odds ratio: 0.288, %95 CI:0.104-0.797). The overall mortality was 35.8%, and the IFI-attributable mortality rate was 25%. In the multivariate analysis, relapsed disease was the most significant risk factor associated with mortality ( P =0.006, odds ratio:4.745; 95% CI: 1.573-14.316). Mold-active prophylaxis reduced the rate of IFIs in this cohort however IFI-related mortality was still high as 25% in pediatric AML patients. Relapsed AML was the most significant risk factor associated with mortality.

Mold-Active Antifungal Prophylaxis in Pediatric Patients with Cancer or Undergoing Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs), in particular invasive mold infections, still pose considerable problems in the care of children and adolescents treated for cancer or undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation. As these infections are difficult to diagnose, and the outcomes for IFDs are still unsatisfactory, antifungal prophylaxis has become an important strategy in the clinical setting. Antifungal prophylaxis is indicated in patients at high risk for IFD, which is commonly defined as a natural incidence of at least 10%. As there is a growing interest in pediatric-specific clinical trials and pediatric-specific guidelines, this review focuses on the available data of mold-active antifungal prophylaxis in children and adolescents. The data demonstrate that a major effort is needed to characterize the pediatric patient population in which the net effect of prophylactic antifungals will be beneficial as well as to find the optimal prophylactic antifungal compound and dosage.

Mucormycosis After Heart Transplantation: A Single Center Experience

<h3>Purpose</h3> To define the epidemiology and examine outcomes of heart transplant recipients (HTR) with mucormycosis. <h3>Methods</h3> We performed a retrospective 1:4 case-control study in HTR with and without mucormycosis from 6/2005-5/2021. Statistical analyses were conducted using R version 3.6.1. Continuous variables were analyzed using student's T test and categorical variables using Fisher's exact tests. <h3>Results</h3> The prevalence of mucormycosis was 1.5% (n=7; 6 HTR, 1 HT-kidney recipient) and occurred at a mean 109 d post-HT (range 25-310 d). Those with mucormycosis were predominantly male (85.7%) and white (85.7%) with mean age was 59 y. For induction, 4 cases received basiliximab and 2 received thymoglobulin. Three cases received antifungal prophylaxis with posaconzole (n=2) or voriconazole (n=1). Infection usually involved the lung (n=6), but also the rhinocerebrum (n=1) and skin/soft tissue (n=1), with species including Rhizopus (n=3), Cunninghamella (n=1), and other Mucorales species unknown (n=3). Initial treatment included liposomal Amphotericin-B (n=6) and isavuconazole (n=1). Two cases underwent lung resection, and one had a leg amputation for surgical treatment. Two patients expired due to mucormycosis at 25 d and 95 d post-HT. Compared to HTR without mucormycosis, cases were older (59y v. 48y, p=0.03) and were more likely to have underlying lung disease (71.4% vs 17.9%, p=0.01) and need hemodialysis in the peri-transplant period (71.4% vs 57.1%, p=0.03). There was more diabetes (71.4% vs 57.1%, p=0.68) and kidney disease (71.4% vs 57.1%, p=0.68) in the mucormycosis group, but neither reached statistical significance. There was no difference in ATG induction between the two groups (29% vs 29%, p=1). HTR with mucormycosis were also more likely to have bacterial infections after transplant (85.7% vs 35.7%, p=0.0381). HTR with mucormycosis had higher 1 yr infection-related mortality (42.9% vs 0%, p=0.005) and a trend toward higher 1 yr overall mortality (28.6% vs 7.1%, p=0.17) compared to HTR without mucormycosis. <h3>Conclusion</h3> In this study, prevalence of mucormycosis after HT was low, but resulted in high 1 yr infection-related and overall mortality. Older age, lung disease and hemodialysis emerged as univariate predictors for mucormycosis. Most mucormycosis infections (71%) occurred in the first 3 months following transplant, even in patients on mold-active antifungal prophylaxis.

Antifungal prophylaxis for prevention of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis in critically ill patients: an observational study

BackgroundCoronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19)-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) emerged as important fungal complications in patients with COVID-19-associated severe acute respiratory failure (ARF). Whether mould active antifungal prophylaxis (MAFP) can prevent CAPA remains elusive so far.MethodsIn this observational study, we included all consecutive patients admitted to intensive care units with COVID-19-associated ARF between September 1, 2020, and May 1, 2021. We compared patients with versus without antifungal prophylaxis with respect to CAPA incidence (primary outcome) and mortality (secondary outcome). Propensity score adjustment was performed to account for any imbalances in baseline characteristics. CAPA cases were classified according to European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM)/International Society of Human and Animal Mycoses (ISHAM) consensus criteria.ResultsWe included 132 patients, of whom 75 (57%) received antifungal prophylaxis (98% posaconazole). Ten CAPA cases were diagnosed, after a median of 6 days following ICU admission. Of those, 9 CAPA cases were recorded in the non-prophylaxis group and one in the prophylaxis group, respectively. However, no difference in 30-day ICU mortality could be observed. Thirty-day CAPA incidence estimates were 1.4% (95% CI 0.2–9.7) in the MAFP group and 17.5% (95% CI 9.6–31.4) in the group without MAFP (p = 0.002). The respective subdistributional hazard ratio (sHR) for CAPA incidence comparing the MAFP versus no MAFP group was of 0.08 (95% CI 0.01–0.63; p = 0.017).ConclusionIn ICU patients with COVID-19 ARF, antifungal prophylaxis was associated with significantly reduced CAPA incidence, but this did not translate into improved survival. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MAFP with respect to CAPA incidence and clinical outcomes.

A Phase I/II Study on the Anti-CD3/CD7 Immunotoxin Combination (T-GuardTM) for the Treatment of Steroid-Refractory Acute Gvhd

BackgroundMore effective therapies for steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR-aGVHD) are urgently needed. Because infections and relapse of the hematological malignancy contribute to the dismal overall survival (OS) therapies that limit the duration of immune suppression after achieving a remission might be preferred. The immunotoxin (IT)-combination (T-GuardTM) consists of two antibody-drug conjugates (i.e. Ricin A) that target CD3 and CD7 on activated T lymphocytes and has shown efficacy as third-line therapy in SR-aGVHD while allowing fast immune reconstitution.ObjectivesWe conducted a prospective phase I/II multicenter trial on the safety and efficacy of T-GuardTM for the treatment of SR-aGVHD (NCT02027805).MethodsAdult patients with grade II-IV SR-aGVHD were eligible for inclusion. Exclusion criteria consisted of the presence of uncontrolled infections, signs of chronic GVHD, severe renal impairment and severe hypoalbuminemia. T-Guard was given as 4-hour intravenous infusions every 48 hours for a total of 4 doses of each 4 mg/m2. The primary efficacy endpoint was defined as overall clinical response (ORR) on day 28. The main secondary endpoints were the 6-month OS and the safety and tolerability.ResultsBetween June 2014 and September 2016 the planned 20 adult patients were included in two European centers. Patients, 11 female and 9 male, with a median age of 53 years (range 18-74) all had received an allogeneic stem cell transplantation for myeloid and lymphoid malignancies. All but two completed the planned 8 days of treatment with T-Guard. SR-aGVHD was grade II in 3 patients (15%), III in 11 (55%), and IV in 7 (35%). In most patients 2 organs were involved (16/20, 80%), with gastro-intestinal (GI) and liver involvement in 18 and 5 cases, respectively. Baseline albumin levels were median 23 gr/L (range:16-34; N 35-50 gr/L) and based on the 2-biomarker model (ST2 and REG3α) no patients were classified as low-risk (p̂ < 0.08), and 50% as high-risk (p̂ ≥ 0.32).On day 28, 12 patients had achieved a clinical response (ORR: 12/20, 60%), with 10 (50%) achieving a complete remission (CR), Figure 1. In those with a high-risk biomarker profile a CR was achieved in 50%. With a minimum follow-up of 6 months 12 patients were alive (6-month OS 60%), Figure 1. The cause of death in the other eight patients was refractory aGVHD (N=4), refractory GVHD and infection (N=3) and pseudomembranous colitis (N=1). Of those receiving the planned treatment the ORR, CR rate and 6-month OS were 67%, 56%, and 67% respectively. The outcomes compared favorably with historical controls receiving either infliximab (N=21) or inolimomab/etanercept (N=21) were the ORR was 52% and the 6-month OS 29% (Figure 1 and 2).No significant infusion reactions were recorded, although two patients experienced chills on their first infusion, and after introduction of clemastine pre-infusion no infusion reactions were seen. As expected, the rate of overall infection and adverse events was high. However, there was a limited number of potentially attributable adverse events that occurred in more than one patient, and consisted of hypoalbuminemia, microangiopathy, and thrombocytopenia. Vascular leak syndrome occurred in only one patient, with edema requiring treatment with diuretics (grade 2). Early (< 3 months) EBV and CMV infections were recorded in 3 patients each, but no CMV disease or PTLD occurred. Whilst only 40% received mould-active antifungal prophylaxis no IFD were seen.While the one-week treatment course was associated with an immediate depletion of T and NK cells, IT-combination's short half-life (~9 hrs) allowed for a swift immune reconstitution accompanied by a diverse T cell receptor repertoire and without a negative effect on the fraction of anti-viral EBV and CMV-specific clones.ConclusionTreatment of SR-aGVHD with a short course of the T-GuardTM proved to be safe and well tolerated, and resulted in a high rate of CR and a promising 6-month OS of 60%, especially considering the high-risk setting (90% GI involvement, 50% high-risk biomarker profile). A pivotal multicentre international controlled trial, comparing T-GuardTM with best-available therapy for SR-aGVHD is scheduled for the end of 2017. [Display omitted] Disclosuresvan Hooren:xenikos: Employment, Equity Ownership. van Oosterhout:Xenikos: Employment, Equity Ownership. Levine:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Cost-Effectiveness of Serum Galactomannan Surveillance during Mould-Active Antifungal Prophylaxis

Serial galactomannan (GM) monitoring can aid the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) and optimise treatment decisions. However, widespread adoption of mould-active prophylaxis has reduced the incidence of IA and challenged its use. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of prophylaxis-biomarker strategies. A Markov model simulating high-risk patients undergoing routine GM surveillance with mould-active versus non-mould-active prophylaxis was constructed. The incremental cost for each additional quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained over a lifetime horizon was calculated. In 40- and 60-year-old patients receiving mould-active prophylaxis coupled with routine GM surveillance, the total cost accrued was the lowest at SGD 11,227 (USD 8255) and SGD 9234 (USD 6790), respectively, along with higher QALYs gained (5.3272 and 1.1693). This strategy, being less costly and more effective, dominated mould-active prophylaxis with no GM monitoring or GM surveillance during non-mould-active prophylaxis. The prescription of empiric antifungal treatment was influential in the cost-effectiveness. When the GM test sensitivity was reduced from 80% to 30%, as might be anticipated with the use of mould-active prophylactic agents, the conclusion remained unchanged. The likelihood of GM surveillance with concurrent mould-active prophylaxis being cost-effective was 77%. Routine GM surveillance remained cost-effective during mould-active prophylaxis despite lower IA breakthroughs. Cost-saving from reduced empirical antifungal treatment was an important contributing factor.

Immune Parameters for Diagnosis and Treatment Monitoring in Invasive Mold Infection.

Infections caused by invasive molds, including Aspergillus spp., can be difficult to diagnose and remain associated with high morbidity and mortality. Thus, early diagnosis and targeted systemic antifungal treatment remains the most important predictive factor for a successful outcome in immunocompromised individuals with invasive mold infections. Diagnosis remains difficult due to low sensitivities of diagnostic tests including culture and other mycological tests for mold pathogens, particularly in patients on mold-active antifungal prophylaxis. As a result, antifungal treatment is rarely targeted and reliable markers for treatment monitoring and outcome prediction are missing. Thus, there is a need for improved markers to diagnose invasive mold infections, monitor response to treatment, and assist in determining when antifungal therapy should be escalated, switched, or can be stopped. This review focuses on the role of immunologic markers and specifically cytokines in diagnosis and treatment monitoring of invasive mold infections.

The D-index is not correlated with invasive fungal infection during the early-post engraftment phase among allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

The D-index assesses neutropenia dynamics. Prolonged neutropenia is a major risk for invasive fungal infection (IFI); we hypothesized that D-index is predictive of IFI risk. We retrospectively reviewed 789 adults who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic transplant (HSCT) from 1/1/2005 to 9/30/2015. Medical records were reviewed from transplant (D0) through Day 100. The D-index was calculated as area over the neutrophil curve until engraftment. 714 patients were included for analysis. Sixteen (2%) developed probable (11) or proven (5) IFI. Median time to IFI was 40days (range 8-98) after HSCT. Groups with and without IFI did not differ significantly in duration of mild or profound neutropenia. Median D-index of those with IFI was 4293daysneutrophil/µl compared to 3590daysneutrophil/µl for those without IFI (P = 0.17). Patients who were neutropenic on D0 showed higher rates of IFI than those who were not (10/123 [8%] vs 6/591 [1%]; P < 0.001). Only 2% developed IFI, likely due to mold-active antifungal prophylaxis. The D-index was not significantly higher in those with IFI. Duration of profound neutropenia and neutropenia at D0 may be better markers for IFI among HSCT recipients during the first 30 and 100days after transplant.

Emerging Fungal Infections: New Patients, New Patterns, and New Pathogens.

The landscape of clinical mycology is constantly changing. New therapies for malignant and autoimmune diseases have led to new risk factors for unusual mycoses. Invasive candidiasis is increasingly caused by non-albicans Candida spp., including C. auris, a multidrug-resistant yeast with the potential for nosocomial transmission that has rapidly spread globally. The use of mould-active antifungal prophylaxis in patients with cancer or transplantation has decreased the incidence of invasive fungal disease, but shifted the balance of mould disease in these patients to those from non-fumigatus Aspergillus species, Mucorales, and Scedosporium/Lomentospora spp. The agricultural application of triazole pesticides has driven an emergence of azole-resistant A. fumigatus in environmental and clinical isolates. The widespread use of topical antifungals with corticosteroids in India has resulted in Trichophyton mentagrophytes causing recalcitrant dermatophytosis. New dimorphic fungal pathogens have emerged, including Emergomyces, which cause disseminated mycoses globally, primarily in HIV infected patients, and Blastomyces helicus and B. percursus, causes of atypical blastomycosis in western parts of North America and in Africa, respectively. In North America, regions of geographic risk for coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, and blastomycosis have expanded, possibly related to climate change. In Brazil, zoonotic sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis has emerged as an important disease of felines and people.

Auditing fungal disease in leukemia patients in a tertiary care center: opportunities and challenges for an antifungal stewardship program

Invasive fungal disease (IFD) is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in patients with acute leukemia. Antifungal stewardship (AFS) programs are utilized in this patient group but have been infrequently evaluated in clinical practice. Adults diagnosed with acute leukemia at an Australian tertiary center over two years were identified, with subsequent auditing of IFD prophylaxis and treatment, and identification of further opportunities for AFS activities. Proven or probable IFD occurred in 6% of cases, including 14% of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients and 6% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Mold-active antifungal prophylaxis was used in 84% of cases overall, including in 94% of AML cases and 23% of ALL cases. Local auditing identified target areas for AFS in this complex patient cohort, including modification of clinical guidelines, enhanced patient screening, improved access to fungal diagnostics and therapeutic drug monitoring, and the establishment of a specialized, embedded AFS program.

Risk of Invasive Fungal Infections in Patients with High-Risk MDS and AML Receiving Hypomethylating Agents

IntroductionAcute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients are at risk of invasive fungal infection (IFI) due to prolonged neutropenia related to the underlying diseases and the induction chemotherapy required to treat them. The risk of IFI specifically in AML or MDS patients treated with hypomethylating agents (HMA) has not been fully elucidated, with previous publications reporting various prophylaxis practices and IFI incidences from 3.3% to 14.4%. We sought to characterize the incidence of IFI in patients with MDS and AML who received azacitidine (AZA) or decitabine (DAC) at our institution.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was performed to evaluate the incidence of IFI in adults receiving between 10/1/10 and 10/1/17. Patients were included if they received at least two cycles of either drug and were diagnosed with AML, MDS with a revised international prognostic scoring system (R-IPSS) score of at least 3.5, or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) categorized as intermediate 2 or higher risk using CMML-specific prognostic scoring system (CPSS). Patients were excluded if they received mold-active antifungal prophylaxis at any time during HMA therapy prior to the development of an IFI, or if they received mold-active antifungal treatment when starting a HMA. The primary endpoint was the incidence of IFI, defined as proven, probable, or possible using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group criteria (EORTC).ResultsSix hundred and fifty-one consecutive patients were screened, and 203 patients met inclusion criteria. The three most common reasons for exclusion were incomplete data (n=158), receipt of fewer than two cycles of a HMA (n=138), and receipt of mold-active antifungal treatment at the time of HMA initiation or mold-active antifungal prophylaxis at any point during HMA therapy (n=86). Six patients had two distinct episodes of HMA therapy separated by either an allogeneic stem cell transplant or a treatment other than HMA; thus 209 episodes of treatment occurred amongst 203 patients. Overall, the study population was elderly with the median age of 69, and 59% of the patients were male. Fifty-one percent of patients had AML, while 49% had MDS or CMML; 72% received AZA. The median number of cycles of HMA utilized was five. Most patients were treatment-naïve (59% AML and 87% MDS had no prior therapy). A significant portion of the group (25.8%) was neutropenic on cycle 1 day 1 (C1D1) of HMA. Other pertinent baseline characteristics of the study population are displayed in Table 1. We identified 20 cases of IFI, with an overall incidence of 9.6%. Most IFI were possible cases according to the EORTC criteria (13/20, 65%), but there were 3 culture-proven cases. The possible cases all met the host criterion of neutropenia and 12 of 13 met the clinical criterion of lower respiratory tract infection based on imaging. Organisms isolated on culture included Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp., and Scedosporium spp. A diagnosis of IFI was made at a median of 3 cycles of HMA, with the majority (85%) diagnosed within the first four cycles. Among the 20 cases of IFI, 12 were diagnosed while receiving AZA and 8 were receiving DAC. More than half of the patients who developed IFI were neutropenic on C1D1. These patients had a significantly higher risk of IFI compared to non-neutropenic patients (20.4% vs. 5.8%, p=0.0051). When other baseline characteristics were analyzed, patients with therapy-related MDS (t-MDS) compared to de novo MDS were more likely to have an IFI (20.8% vs. 5.1%, p=0.0314). Patients with de novo AML also had a higher incidence of IFI compared to AML from an antecedent MDS/MPN (15.4% vs. 2.4%), however this did not reach statistical significance (p=0.07). Additional comparisons are described in Table 2.ConclusionIFI occurred in 9.6% of patients treated with HMA, but was observed in 20.4% of those who were neutropenic on C1D1 of HMA. Another potential risk factor identified was t-MDS versus de novo MDS. Prospective evaluation of mold-active antifungal prophylaxis in patients with MDS or AML who are neutropenic at the start of HMA therapy is warranted. DisclosuresFrey:Novartis: Consultancy; Servier Consultancy: Consultancy. Perl:Arog: Consultancy; NewLink Genetics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astellas: Consultancy; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy; AbbVie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Actinium Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Porter:Kite Pharma: Other: Advisory board; Novartis: Other: Advisory board, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Genentech: Other: Spouse employment.

Isavuconazole (ISAV) As Primary Anti-Fungal Prophylaxis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia or Myelodysplastic Syndrome: An Open-Label, Prospective Study

Isavuconazole (ISAV) As Primary Anti-Fungal Prophylaxis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia or Myelodysplastic Syndrome: An Open-Label, Prospective Study

Treatment of Aspergillosis.

Infections caused by Aspergillus spp. remain associated with high morbidity and mortality. While mold-active antifungal prophylaxis has led to a decrease of occurrence of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in those patients most at risk for infection, breakthrough IA does occur and remains difficult to diagnose due to low sensitivities of mycological tests for IA. IA is also increasingly observed in other non-neutropenic patient groups, where clinical presentation is atypical and diagnosis remains challenging. Early and targeted systemic antifungal treatment remains the most important predictive factor for a successful outcome in immunocompromised individuals. Recent guidelines recommend voriconazole and/or isavuconazole for the primary treatment of IA, with liposomal amphotericin B being the first alternative, and posaconazole, as well as echinocandins, primarily recommended for salvage treatment. Few studies have evaluated treatment options for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), where long-term oral itraconazole or voriconazole remain the treatment of choice.

The utility of contrast-enhanced hypodense sign for the diagnosis of pulmonary invasive mould disease in patients with haematological malignancies.

The hypodense sign (HyS) on CT imaging is highly suggestive of pulmonary invasive mould disease (IMD) in patients with haematological malignancies, but its diagnostic utility has not been systematically evaluated on contrast-enhanced CT. The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of the HyS to other common CT findings in a cohort of haematology patients with proven, probable or possible IMD based on European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group criteria. We analysed the diagnostic performance of the HyS to other common CT signs among 127 neutropenic patients with haematological malignancies submitted to both non-contrast-enhanced and contrast-enhanced CT scans of the lungs, including CT pulmonary angiography. The HyS was detected in 15.7% of patients imaged without contrast, and 44.1% after contrast administration. A contrast-aided HyS was detected in 86.6, 78.0 and 15.5% of patients with European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group proven, probable and possible IMD, respectively. When analysed per clinical diagnosis (proven, probable and highly possible IMD-i.e. no alternative diagnosis to mould disease reached), the contrast-enhanced HyS was as sensitive as the halo sign but significantly more specific [halo sign 0.56, 95% CI (0.39-0.71) vs HyS 0.98, 95% CI (0.87-1.00)]. Only the vessel occlusion sign was more sensitive [0.97, 95% CI (0.91-0.99)] and specific [0.97, 95% CI (0.86-0.99)] than the HyS for IMD diagnosis. The high specificity of the HyS strongly supports the diagnosis of pulmonary IMD in neutropenic patients, and is highly suggestive breakthrough fungal disease in patients on mould-active antifungal prophylaxis. Advances in knowledge: This is the first systematic analysis of the hypodense sign on contrast-enhanced CT; the sign can support the diagnosis of IMD when other CT signs are uncertain.

Epidemiology and Risk Factors for Invasive Fungal Diseases among Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients in Korea: Results of “RISK” Study

Incidence, epidemiology, and risk factors of invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) recipients can vary from different cohorts and countries. Therefore, we performed a nationwide study to establish a proper antifungal prophylaxis strategies based on risk stratifications of IFDs after all-HSCT in Korea (RISK study). This was a multicenter, retrospective, and observational study in Korea. All consecutive adult patients who received allo-HSCT in 2013 were included. The 12-month cumulative incidence of proven/probable IFDs (PP-IFDs) was calculated during the early (days 0 to 40), late (days 41 to 100), and very late (days 101 to 365) phases after allo-HSCT. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for PP-IFDs at each phase. A total 521 allo-HSCT cases in 518 patients were analyzed. Overall cumulative incidence of PP-IFDs were 4.09% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.38 to 5.81), 7.38% (95% CI, 5.09 to 9.67), and 15.36% (95% CI, 12.04 to 18.68) at the early, late and very phases, respectively. In multiple Cox regression analysis, variables were associated with PP-IFDs in each period were identified. Variables associated with early phase include underlying pulmonary diseases, underlying nonmalignant stable or chronic disease at allo-HSCT, unrelated or family mismatched donor, and prolonged neutropenia. Variables associated with the late phase include high ferritin level at the time point of allo-HSCT, use of secondary immunosuppressive agents due to refractory graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and cytomegalovirus reactivation. For the very late phase, variables were secondary neutropenia, severe chronic GVHD, and use of TNF-alpha inhibitor for refractory GVHD. This study revealed the high cumulative incidence of IFDs in Korean allo-HSCT recipients, which have distinct risk factors in each phase after allo-HSCT. Our findings indicate that tailored antifungal prophylaxis is necessary for high-risk patients. Clinicians should consider using mold-active antifungal prophylaxis in allo-HSCT recipients who have high risks at different treatment period.

High Infection-Related Mortality in Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia without Preventive Antibiotics and Antifungals: Retrospective Cohort Study of a Single Center from a Middle-Income Country.

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate infection-related mortality in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated without preventive antibiotics and antifungals in a middle-income country.Materials and Methods:Infection-related mortality was evaluated retrospectively in 49 pediatric patients.Results:A total of 173 chemotherapy courses were administered as first-line chemotherapy. Four patients died during induction: one patient due to intracranial bleeding, two patients due to typhlitis, and one patient due to invasive fungal infection with pulmonary vascular invasion and massive bleeding. Another two patients died with resistant disease. During consolidation there were four infection-related deaths and one death due to cardiotoxicity. In first-line chemotherapy mortality was 22% (11/49); infection-related mortality was 14% (7/49). Event-free survival and overall survival at 6 years were 42.9% and 61.2% (95% CI: 44-76 and 66-99 months), respectively.Conclusion:Due to considerable infection-related deaths, antibacterial and mold-active antifungal prophylaxis may be tried during neutropenic periods in pediatric AML.